Skagit County Department of Emergency Management
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 24, 2016
5 confirmed dead after Cascade Mall shooting; investigation ongoing
Burlington – The shooter believed to be responsible for five deaths at the Cascade Mall in Burlington last night, Sept. 23, is still at large as the Skagit County Multiple Agency Response Team (SMART) continues to investigate the incident and actively search for the suspect. Anyone with information or tips about the suspect is urged to contact law enforcement at 360-428-3211 or [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Four female victims were confirmed deceased last night; a male victim who was seriously injured and transported to Harborview Medical Center passed away overnight, bringing the total number of victims to five.
The SMART team is currently reconstructing the entire scene, conducting forensic scanning and collecting evidence. Detectives are pursing tips and leads from the public.
The Skagit County coroner has not yet determined the manner and cause of death for the victims. The Coroner’s office will release details about the identity of the victims following an autopsy and notification of immediate family.
At approximately 6:58 p.m. Sept. 23, Skagit 911 received a call from the Macy’s Department Store at Cascade Mall reporting an active shooter. The suspect was described as wearing black clothing and carrying a rifle. Only one shooter was reported. Local and regional law enforcement from more than 26 agencies immediately responded to the mall to secure the scene and evacuate workers and visitors. At the height of the incident, approximately 200 law enforcement officers were on scene.
According to surveillance video taken from the mall, the shooter appeared to enter the mall without a weapon; ten minutes later, he reappears on surveillance video at Macy’s with a rifle in his hand.
At 4:30 a.m. Sept. 24, teams of officers cleared the 434,000-square-foot mall. The mall and surrounding parking lots remain closed for the investigation. Mall patrons whose cars remain in the lot will be able to retrieve their vehicles later today, Sept. 24. Notification will be made via the @wspd7pio or @SkagitDEM Twitter accounts, and through local media.
The Cascade Mall remains closed to patrons today, Sept. 24. Adjacent businesses are not affected by the mall closure; please contact the businesses directly to determine if and when they will be open.
